Wardrobe-suitcase.



G. H. WHEARY WARDROBE SUITCASE.

' APPLICATION FIL'ED APR. 29,1914. I 1,2%,25B Patented May1,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- W/T/VE 5555 j A TTUFNEYE e. H.- WHEARY. WARDROBESUITCASE.

\ APPLICATION FILED.APR. 20. 1914. 134 5 Patented May1,1917. 3SHEETS-SHEET 2 W/TNEEEEE m M V A TTUFQNE Y5.

e. H. WHEARY.

WARDROBE SUITCASE. W APPLICATlON FILED APR.20. 191 4.

Patented May 1, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A TTUFR'NE Y5.

GEORGE HENRY wnnmmor RACINE, WISCONSIN.

WARDROBE-SUITCASE.

Specification of Letters I atent.

Patented Ma 1, 191?.

Application filed April 20, 1914. Serial No. 833,065.

v of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wardrobe-Suitcases, of

which the following is a description, refer- I ence being had to theaccompanying drawings. which are a part of this specification. Thisinvention relates to improvements in wardrobe suit-cases.

In many parts of the world the traveler is compelled to pay excesscharges on the total weight of baggage carried and consequently manytravelers will not travel with trunks, the expense being too great, andinstead they use large size valises or hand baggage, which need not bechecked and can be carried into the compartments of the conveyance inwhich they travel.

In the ordinary valises or hand baggage now in use, the garments aretightly folded and packed into the compartments thereof andnaturallybecome badly wrinkled and have to be pressed before they are in suitablecondition to be again worn.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to overcome the beforementioned objectionable features and provide a valise or wardrobesuit-case so constructed as to possess all of the advantages of themodern wardrobe trunk and still be of a size and weight to beconveniently carried as hand baggage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wardrobe suit-casehaving a ward robe section for garments of outer wear and anothersection divided into a number of compartments for containingsmallerarticles of wearing apparel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a Wardrobe suit-case ofsuch size and weight as to permit a number of cases being carried intothe state rooms of steamships and railway cars and which will occupy butlittle space and will enable the traveler to have all of theconveniences in his sleeping compartment as he would have in a hotel andwhile traveling with a trunk.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wardrobe suit-casewhich is also adapted for use as a sample case in which agents canproperly and conveniently display samples of articles to be sold tocustomers while in the case, and the agents can easily carry the casefrom store to store and display the articles in perfect condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wardrobe suit-case inwhich the wardrobe section may be swung to a vertical position and isprovided with garment supporting means which may be pulled out of thesection while supporting garments to permit easy access to the garmentscarried thereby.

A further object of. the invention is to provide a wardrobe suit-case inwhich the portion of the suit-case which covers the wardrobe sectionmaybe swung to closed position while the wardrobe section is in open orupright position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wardrobe suit-casehaving a wardrobe section provided with garment hangers and extensiblehanger tracks which may be swung outwardly from the section to permitthe garment hangers being pulled out- Wardly to positions of easyaccessibility.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wardrobe suit-case inwhich the Wardrobe section of the case is provided with means forretaining the garments in the position in which they are placed in thecase whereby they are securely held against disarrangement While thesuit-case is closed and is being moved about.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wardrobe suit-case inwhich the wardrobe section thereof is .provided with a hinged and paddedend to permit convenient access to the garments supported on the hangersand to also yieldingly bind and hold the hangers and the garmentssupported thereon in position upon the hanger tracks.

A further object of the invention is to provide a Wardrobe suit-casewhich is of simple construction, is light in weight and strong anddurable and is Well adapted for the purpose described;

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists of theimproved wardrobe suit-case and its parts and combina-- tions as setforth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference charactei'sindicate the same parts in all of the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of theimproved wardrobe. suit-case shownin open position;

Fig.2 is an end viewthereof in .the same -posltlon a portion of theretainer bar and one of the side members which is engaged by the bar, v

the said member being shown as spaced from the bar; and

Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view of the retainer bar.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 10 indicates the improved wardrobevalise or suit-case which is of rectangular form and is dividedlengthwise to form the body portion 11 and the cover portion 12 hingedthereto. The case is preferably formed of very, light weight ply boardcovered with any suitable light weight material to give an ornateappearance to the case and is provided with a handle 13 and the usuallocking fixtures and reinforcing parts.

The body portion is subdivided by parti tions 14 into a number ofcompartments 15 which are adapted to receive various articles of wearand toilet articles.

The end wall 16 of the body portion of Y the case terminates at a pointbelow the upper edge of the said portion and a panel 17 hinged to theupper edge portion of said end serves to close the open portion of saidend. The panel carries a tray 18 which is adapted to be swung into andout of the body portion of the case and when within the said portion,the tray rests upon the upper edges of the compartment partitions. Thetray when within the body portion projects upwardly therefrom and intothe cover portion and its side and end walls 19, 20 and 20' areoverlapped by the side and end fianges 21 of the cover. The tray is somounted on the panel that when the wardly to open position and serve toprevent the tray from swinging beyond a vertical position. 'A gravitydog 25, pivoted to the inner side of the front wall of the body portionof the case. and adjacent to the inner end of the arm 23 of the frontbracket 22, is provided with a shoulder 25 which is adapted to dropbeneath the end of the arm and lock the tray to which the bracket isconnected in upright position. In order to close the tray it is onlynecessary to swing the dog out of engagement with the arm and swing thetray to closed position within the body portion of the case. The loweredge portion of the shoulder 25 is rounded so that when the tray isswung to open position the dog will automatically engage the arm andlock the tray in its open position.

Fixed wardrobe hanger tracks or rails 26 mounted in the upper orunhinged end portion of the tray are provided with extensible ends 27which are hinged to the outer ends of the fixed rails in a manner topermit their being swung horizontally out of the tray and inlongltudinal alinement with the fixed rails. The fixed tracks projectoutwardly froma U-shaped reinforcing bar 28 which is secured to theinner surfaces of the upper edge portions of the back or bottom and sidewalls of the tray. The

outer end portions of the fixed. tracks are 7 also connected tothe sidewalls of the tray and to the side stems 29 of the reinforcing bar 28 by.'U-shaped brackets 30. Garment hangers 31 slidably mounted on the'tracksare provided with upper straight edge portions 31 which extendsubstantially from one track to the other and are adapted to embed intoa pad 32 interposed between the said hangers and the end wall 20 of thetray and preferably carried by said end wall. The rear edge portion ofthe endwall is hinged to the rear or bottom wall of the tray so thatwhen the end wall or cover is swung upwardly to open position, thegarment hangers are released and may be slid outwardly on the extensibletracks.

When garments are draped over the upper edge portions of the hangersthey will also embed into the pad and be firmly held in posltlonwithout-injury to the garments.

The tray is also provided with a clothes retainer bar 33 which extendstransversely of the tray and its opposite ends are provided with guideplates 34 which engage guide bars 35 mounted on the opposite side wallsof the tray. The "guide plates are provided with T-shaped slots 34' toreceive the guide bars 35 and form the overlapping shoulders 36 whichextend around the upper and lower edges of the guide bars and to theouter sides thereof, the bars being spaced from the side walls of thetray to accommodate the shoulders'36. The forward end spacing bends 35of the guide bars are of less width than the guide portions to permitthe guide plates to easily slip off the ends of the said guide bars. Rodbolts 37 mounted on the front face of the pressure bar extend to theouter ends of said bar and are adapted to enter bolt openings orperforations 38 formed in the guide bars 35 to lock the pressure bar inadjusted position. The outer end portions of the rod bolts are guided inthe plates 34 and the inner ends extend to a medial portion of theretainer bar and are guided in a slotted guide plate 39 mounted on thesaid retainer bar. The said inner ends of the rod bolts are bent atright angles to form operating fingers 40 and extend through the slots41 of the slot ted guide plate 39. The operating fingers 40 extendsufficiently close to one another to be grasped by the thumb andforefinger of the user, and a coiled spring 42 mounted in the slottedplate and interposed between the inner ends of the rod bolts is adaptedto yieldingly hold the said rod bolts in looking position. The outerends of these bolts are beveled or cut oil" at an angle as indicated bythe numeral 43 to provide for the automatic engagement of the bolts withthe locking apertures when the pressure bar is forced inwardly againstthe garments supported by the hangers.

In order to lock the end cover 20 of the wardrobe section in closedposition the outer ends of the extensible rods are provided with angularmembers 44 which engage the looped plates 45 mounted on the inner faceof the forward edge portion of the end cover when the extensible endsare swung to closed position.

The suit-case cover 12 is limited in its upward movement and is held inopen position by a slotted link 46 which is pivoted to the cover flangeand has a slidable engagement with the body portion of the case.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the Wardrobe valiseor suit-case provides a hand baggage which is of simple construction andpossesses substantially all of the advantages of a wardrobe trunk.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A wardrobe valise or suit-case, comprising a casing formed of a bodyportion having a cover hinged thereto, a wardrobe section having one ofits end portions hinged to one of the end portions of the body andadapted to be swung to an upright position,

said wardrobe section having an open end provided with a hlnged endcover, a pair of garment hanger tracks mounted in the Wardrobe sectionadjacent to the wardrobe section cover, garment hangers removablymounted on said tracks, and a pad interposed between the wardrobesection end cover and the hangers and into which the hangers embed.

2A wardrobe valise or suit-case, comprising a casing formed of a bodyportion having a cover hinged thereto,'a wardrobe section having one ofits end portions hinged to one of the end portions of the body andadapted to be swung to an upright position outside of the casing, saidwardrobe section having an open end provided with a hinged end cover, apair of fixed garment hanger tracks mounted within the wardrobe section,extensible tracks hinged to swing out of the wardrobe section and toaline with the fixed tracks, garment hangers slidably mounted on thetracks, a retainer bar adjustably mounted within the wardrobe sectionand adapted to engage garments supported on the hangers, and a padinterposed between the hangers and the wardrobe section end cover andinto which the hangers embed.

3. A wardrobe valise or suit-case, comprising a casing formed of a bodyportion section and adapted to engage garments supported on the hangers,and a pad inter- 'bar adjustably mounted within the wardrobe posedbetween the hangers and the wardrobe section end cover and into whichthe hangers embed.

4. A Wardrobe valise or suit-case, comprising a casing formed of a bodyportion having a cover hinged thereto, a wardrobe section having one ofits end portions hinged to one of the end portions of the body andadapted to be swung to an upright position outside of the body portionto permit the cover being swung to closed position while the Wardrobesection is inv upright position, said Wardrobe section having an openend, a hinged end cover for said end, a pair of fixed hanger tracksmounted within the wardrobe section adjacent to the open end, extensibletracks hinged to the outer ends of the fixed tracks and adapted to swingoutwardly and to aline with the fixed tracks, garment hangers slidably.Y

mounted on the tracks, a retainer bar adjustably mounted within thewardrobe section being provided with a plurality of partitions and witha hinged end panel adapted to "swing outwardly, the partitionsapproximately corresponding in height to the height of the end wall towhich the panel is connected, a wardrobe section having one of its endportions connected to the panel and said section adapted to swing withsaid panel and when within the casing to rest upon the partitions, stopmeans for limiting the movement of the wardrobe section to a verticalposition, means for locking the wardrobe section in vertical position,tlie free end portion of said wardrobe section being open and having anend cover hinged to the bottom or rear wall of the said section, fixedtracks mounted within the wardrobe section, extensible tracks hinged tothe outer ends of the fixed rails and adapted to be swung horizontallyoutwardly to aline 3 with the fixed tracks and to be swung inwardly tolock the top cover in closed position, and garment hangers mounted onsaid tracks.

6. A wardrobe valise or suit-case, comprising a casing formed of a bodyportion having a cover hinged thereto, the body portion being providedwith a plurality of partitions and with a hinged end panel adapted toswing outwardly, the partitions ap- 40 proximately corresponding inheight to the height of the end wall to which the panel is connected, awardrobe section having one of its end portions connected to the paneland said section adapted to swing with said panel and when within thecasini g to rest upon the partitions, stop means or limiting themovement of the wardrobe section to a vertical position, means forlocking the wardrobe section in vertical position, fixed tracks mountedwithin the wardrobe section, extensible tracks hinged to the outer endsof the fixed rails and adapted to be swung horizontally outwardly toaline with the fixed tracks and to be swung inwardly to lock the topcover in closed position, and

garment hangers mounted on said tracks.

7. A. wardrobe valise' or suit-case, comprising a casing formed of abody portion and a cover hinged thereto, a handle con- 6o nect-cd to amedial part of one of the side walls of the body portion, a wardrobe section mounted within the body portion and adapted to be moved to anupright position outside of the casing, said wardrobe section having anopen end provided with a hinged end cover, a garment hanger supportmounted within the wardrobe section adjacent to the open end, garmenthangers mounted on said support, and a pad interposed between thegarment hangers and the wardrobe section end cover.

8. A wardrobe valise or suit-case, comprising a casing formed of a bodyportion and a cover hinged thereto, a handle connected to a medial partof one of the side walls of the body portion, a wardrobe section mountedwithin the body portion and adapted to be moved to an upright positionoutside of the casing, said wardrobe section having an open end providedwith a hinged end cover, means for holding the wardrobe section inupright position, fixed garment hanger tracks mounted within thewardrobe section'adjacent to the open end, garment hangers slidablymounted on the tracks, extensible tracks hinged to the outer ends of thefixed tracks and adapted to be swung horizontally out of the section andinto alinement with the fixed rails, means carried by the extensibletracks for locking the wardrobe section cover in closed position, and apad interposed between the garment hangers and the wardrobe section endcover and into which the garment hangers embed.

9. A wardrobe valise or suit-case, comprising a body portion, a handleconnected to a medial part of one of the side walls of the body portion,a wardrobe section hinged to one end part of the body portion andmovable to a position into the body portion and through the open top toa vertical position outside of the body portion, said wardrobe sectionbeing in the form of a tray wheniwithin the body portion and having abottom portion with side and end portions connected thereto and movabletherewith and an open top, said open top facing outwardly from the bodyportion when in vertical position and said tray bottom serving tosupport wearing apparel suspended within the section when said sectionis in closed position, one of the end portions of the tray having ahinged connection with the tray bottom and serving as an end cover forsaid tray, hanger tracks mounted within the tray adjacent to the endcover, garment hangers mounted on sa d tracks for supporting the wearingapparel when the tray is in vertical position, a pad interposed betweenthe-garment hangers and the tray end cover and into which the hangersembed, and a cover hinged to one side of the body portion and adapted tocover the open part of the body portion and the tray, said section whenin a vertical position being out of the path of movement of the bodyportion cover.

10. A wardrobe valiseor suit-case, comprising a body portion.a handleconnected to a medial part of one of the side walls of on body portion,a wardrobe section hinged to one end part of the body portion andmovable to a position into the body portion and through the open top toa vertical position outside of the body portion, said wardrobe sectionbeing in the form of a tray when within the body portion and having abottom portion with side and end portions connected thereto and movabletherewith and an open top, said open top facing outwardly from the bodyportion when in vertical position and said tray bottom serving tosupport wearing apparel suspended within the section when said sectionis in closed posi tion, one of the end portions of the tray having ahinged connection with the tray bottom and serving as an end cover forsaid tray, fixed hanger tracks mounted within the tray adjacent to theend cover, extensible tracks hinged to the outer ends of the fixedtracks and adapted to be swung horizontall out of the section and intoalinement wit the fixed tracks, locking means carried by the extensibletracks for engaging and locking the end cover in closed osition, garmenthangers mounted on said tracks for supporting the wearing apparel whenthe tray is in vertical position, a pad interposed between the garmenthangers and the tray end cover and into which the hangers embed, and acover hinged to one side of the body portion and adapted to covertheopen part of the body portion and the tray, said section when in avertical position being out of the path of movement of the body portioncover.

11. A wardrobe valise or suit-case, comprising a body portion, a handleconnected to a medial part of one of the side walls of the body portion,a wardrobe section hinged to one end part of the body portion andmovable to a position into the body portion and through the open top toa vertical position outside of the body portion, said wardrobe sectionbeing in the form of a tray when within the body portion and having abottom portion with side and end portions connected thereto and movabletherewith and an open top, said open top facing outwardly from the bodyportion when in vertical posi tion and said tray bottom serving tosupport-wearing apparel suspended within the section when-said sectionis in'closed position, one of the end portions of the tray having ahinged connection with the tray bottom and serving as an end cover forsaid tray, fixed hanger tracks mounted within the tray adjacent to theend cover, extensible tracks hinged to the outer ends of the fixedtracks and adapted to be swung horizontally out of the section and intoalinement with the fixed tracks, locking means carried by the extensibletracks for engaging and locking the end cover in closed position, armenthangers mounted on said tracks or supporting the wearing apparel whenthe tray is in vertical position, a pad interposed between the garmenthangers and the tray end cover and into which the hangers embed, aretainer bar adjustably mounted within a medial portion of the tray andextending transversely thereof, and a cover hinged to one side of thebody portion and adapted to cover the open part of the body portion andthe tray, said section when in a vertical position being out of the pathof movement of thebody portion cover.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of twoWitnesses.

GEORGE HENRY WHEARY.

Witnesses:

CLINT D. FRAzELL, EMMA 'RASMUSSEN-

